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| Outrage over N Korea nuclear test | Outrage over N Korea nuclear test |
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| There have been expressions of international outrage after North Korea said it had successfully carried out a underground nuclear test. | There have been expressions of international outrage after North Korea said it had successfully carried out a underground nuclear test. |
| US President Barack Obama described the North Korean action as a "threat to international peace". | US President Barack Obama described the North Korean action as a "threat to international peace". |
| South Korea and Japan called the test unacceptable and joined the US in demanding international action. | South Korea and Japan called the test unacceptable and joined the US in demanding international action. |
| A number of external agencies confirmed an explosion, probably associated with a nuclear test, had taken place. | A number of external agencies confirmed an explosion, probably associated with a nuclear test, had taken place. |
| It appeared to be a much more powerful blast than North Korea's first nuclear test, in October 2006. | It appeared to be a much more powerful blast than North Korea's first nuclear test, in October 2006. |
| An emergency session of the UN Security Council is being convened by Russia, which currently occupies the council's rotating presidency. | An emergency session of the UN Security Council is being convened by Russia, which currently occupies the council's rotating presidency. |
| BBC world affairs correspondent David Loyn says North Korea appears to have moved from a posture of negotiation to confrontation over the nuclear issue. | BBC world affairs correspondent David Loyn says North Korea appears to have moved from a posture of negotiation to confrontation over the nuclear issue. |
| 'Safeguarding sovereignty' | 'Safeguarding sovereignty' |
| An official communique read out on North Korean state radio said another round of underground nuclear testing had been "successfully conducted... as part of measures to enhance the Republic's self-defensive nuclear deterrent in all directions". | An official communique read out on North Korean state radio said another round of underground nuclear testing had been "successfully conducted... as part of measures to enhance the Republic's self-defensive nuclear deterrent in all directions". |
| David Loyn, BBC world affairs correspondent Understanding the motivation behind the actions of this most secretive of powers is never easy, but North Korea does now appear to have moved from a posture of negotiation to confrontation. | David Loyn, BBC world affairs correspondent Understanding the motivation behind the actions of this most secretive of powers is never easy, but North Korea does now appear to have moved from a posture of negotiation to confrontation. |
| Two years ago North Korea agreed to close its main nuclear plant at Yongbyon and reveal its nuclear assets. But it has since refused to allow in inspectors, and has now withdrawn from all negotiations. | Two years ago North Korea agreed to close its main nuclear plant at Yongbyon and reveal its nuclear assets. But it has since refused to allow in inspectors, and has now withdrawn from all negotiations. |
| Monday's tests come a little over a month after a test of a long-range missile that threatened Asia and could have reached the US. | Monday's tests come a little over a month after a test of a long-range missile that threatened Asia and could have reached the US. |
| Neither pressure nor the offer of a large aid package have worked. | Neither pressure nor the offer of a large aid package have worked. |
| When it meets later on Monday, the UN Security Council will issue a strong statement of condemnation. President Obama is threatening action, but there are very few options left short of war. In quotes: Reaction to N Korea test North Korea: engage, appease, oppose? | When it meets later on Monday, the UN Security Council will issue a strong statement of condemnation. President Obama is threatening action, but there are very few options left short of war. In quotes: Reaction to N Korea test North Korea: engage, appease, oppose? |
| It said the test had been "safely conducted at a new high level in terms of explosive power and control technology". | It said the test had been "safely conducted at a new high level in terms of explosive power and control technology". |
| The test would "contribute to safeguard the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism", the communique said. | The test would "contribute to safeguard the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism", the communique said. |
| The North gave no details of the test location, but South Korean officials said that a seismic tremor was detected in the north-eastern region around the town of Kilju - the site of North Korea's first nuclear test. | The North gave no details of the test location, but South Korean officials said that a seismic tremor was detected in the north-eastern region around the town of Kilju - the site of North Korea's first nuclear test. |
| Geological recordings of the tremor suggest it was much larger than the 2006 test. That was backed up by the Russian defence ministry, which detected a blast of up to 20 kilotons - comparable to the American bombs that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. | Geological recordings of the tremor suggest it was much larger than the 2006 test. That was backed up by the Russian defence ministry, which detected a blast of up to 20 kilotons - comparable to the American bombs that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. |
| Just hours after the test, North Korea appeared to have test-fired a short-range missile, followed later by two additional short-range missiles, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, but this was not confirmed. | Just hours after the test, North Korea appeared to have test-fired a short-range missile, followed later by two additional short-range missiles, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, but this was not confirmed. |
| The US state department said it was still analysing the available data from the test. | The US state department said it was still analysing the available data from the test. |
| But in a strongly worded statement, President Obama said the North's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatened peace and was in "blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council". | But in a strongly worded statement, President Obama said the North's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatened peace and was in "blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council". |
| "The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community. We have been and will continue working with our allies and partners in the six-party talks as well as other members of the UN Security Council in the days ahead," his statement said. | "The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community. We have been and will continue working with our allies and partners in the six-party talks as well as other members of the UN Security Council in the days ahead," his statement said. |
| NUCLEAR CRISIS Oct 2006 - North Korea conducts an underground nuclear testFeb 2007 - North Korea agrees to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for fuel aidJune 2007 - North Korea shuts its main Yongbyon reactorJune 2008 - North Korea makes its long-awaited declaration of nuclear assetsOct 2008 - The US removes North Korea from its list of countries which sponsor terrorismDec 2008 - Pyongyang slows work to dismantle its nuclear programme after a US decision to suspend energy aidJan 2009 - The North says it is scrapping all military and political deals with the South, accusing it of "hostile intent"April 2009 - Pyongyang launches a rocket carrying what it says is a communications satellite25 May 2009 - North Korea conducts a second nuclear test N Korea a problem for Obama Timeline: North Korea class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2340405.stm">Q&A: Nuclear test | |
| A spokesman for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said the test was "a provocation that can never be tolerated", while Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said any nuclear test by the North would be "unacceptable". | A spokesman for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said the test was "a provocation that can never be tolerated", while Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said any nuclear test by the North would be "unacceptable". |
| Both have formed crisis management teams, and said they would ask for action from the UN Security Council. | Both have formed crisis management teams, and said they would ask for action from the UN Security Council. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he condemned the test "in the strongest terms" and said it would "undermine prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula". | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he condemned the test "in the strongest terms" and said it would "undermine prospects for peace on the Korean peninsula". |
| Last month, Pyongyang pulled out of six-party talks on its nuclear programme, in protest against international condemnation of its test-firing of a rocket on 5 April. | Last month, Pyongyang pulled out of six-party talks on its nuclear programme, in protest against international condemnation of its test-firing of a rocket on 5 April. |
| Pyongyang said its rocket carried a satellite, but several nations viewed it as cover for a long-range missile test. | Pyongyang said its rocket carried a satellite, but several nations viewed it as cover for a long-range missile test. |
| The UN Security Council adopted a statement calling on North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution banning missile tests. | The UN Security Council adopted a statement calling on North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution banning missile tests. |
| This was a weaker response than the full resolution sought by the US and Japan, which was opposed by Russia and China, the North's closest allies. | This was a weaker response than the full resolution sought by the US and Japan, which was opposed by Russia and China, the North's closest allies. |
| Correspondents say this time they may be under pressure to back a stronger response. | Correspondents say this time they may be under pressure to back a stronger response. |
| Rocket condemnation | Rocket condemnation |
| The North says it remains under military threat from its historic rival, South Korea, and South Korea's allies, primarily the US - citing such examples as the annual US-South Korean military exercises undertaken in South Korea. | The North says it remains under military threat from its historic rival, South Korea, and South Korea's allies, primarily the US - citing such examples as the annual US-South Korean military exercises undertaken in South Korea. |
| It says it is entitled to retain a military deterrent. | It says it is entitled to retain a military deterrent. |
| Six-party disarmament talks involving the US, China, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas have stalled over Pyongyang's failure to agree how information it has handed over on its nuclear activities and facilities should be verified. | Six-party disarmament talks involving the US, China, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas have stalled over Pyongyang's failure to agree how information it has handed over on its nuclear activities and facilities should be verified. |
| North Korea had agreed to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear facility as part of an aid-for-disarmament deal and, in response, the US removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist. | North Korea had agreed to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear facility as part of an aid-for-disarmament deal and, in response, the US removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist. |
| But the North now believes it is no longer bound by its previous bilateral agreements with the US and agreements under the six-party talks, reports the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul, South Korea. | But the North now believes it is no longer bound by its previous bilateral agreements with the US and agreements under the six-party talks, reports the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul, South Korea. |
| He says the North, which already faces a stringent sanctions regime, probably thinks it has little to lose. | He says the North, which already faces a stringent sanctions regime, probably thinks it has little to lose. |